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2018-01-04 06:09:36

VZ

Verizon

$52.43

-1.1 (-2.05%)

, SSNLF

Samsung

$2,280.00

(0.00%)

06:09

01/04/18

01/04

06:09

01/04/18

06:09

Verizon selects Samsung for 5G commercial launch

Samsung Electronics America (SSNLF) announced that it has been selected to supply Verizon (VZ) with commercial 5G Fixed Wireless Access network solutions. The two companies will begin by launching commercial 5G services in Sacramento, California in the second half of 2018. Last year, Samsung and Verizon began 5G customer trials across seven U.S. cities in early 2017, and have successfully tested and verified 5G performance using millimeter-wave frequency to provide FWA pre-commercial service. These trials were conducted in California, Georgia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, and Washington D.C. Samsung will provide Verizon with commercial 5G home routers, 5G Radio Access Units comprised of a compact radio base station and virtualized RAN elements, as well as 5G radio frequency planning services.

Catch up on today's top five analyst downgrades with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. Verizon (VZ) downgraded to Hold on valuation at HSBC with analyst Sunil Rajgopal saying the recent rally limits upside. 2. Blue Buffalo Pet Products (BUFF) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank with analyst Faiza Alwy citing valuation concerns as the stock is up 35% over the last six months. 3. Nielsen (NLSN) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays with analyst Manav Patnaik saying he sees challenging end markets for the company as well as credibility concerns following a year of "poor" execution. 4. Valeant (VRX) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan with analyst Chris Schott saying he sees better opportunities in the sector following the recent rally in the shares. 5. Pier 1 Imports (PIR) downgraded to Sell from Hold at Gordon Haskett with analyst Chuck Grom citing the third quarter miss and lowered guidance. This list is just a portion of The Fly's full analyst coverage. To see The Fly's full Street Research coverage, click here.

Catch up on today's top five analyst upgrades with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. Verizon (VZ) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Nomura Instinet by analyst Jeffrey Kvaal, who said that better visibility into subscriber growth, rising average revenue per user and cost control will drive earnings growth in 2018. Further, he believes tax reform should also boost the company's earnings. The analyst thinks signs of easing competition may also spur multiple expansion. 2. Northrop Grumman (NOC) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan by analyst Seth Seifman, who said that more profitable F-35 growth will accelerate in 2018 while management's initial take on the Orbital ATK (OA) deal, including synergies, will prove conservative. He called Northrop his top defense prime pick. 3. Activision Blizzard (ATVI) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs by analyst Christopher Merwin, who recommends owning this discounted "high-quality" asset ahead of accelerating earnings growth over the next 2-3 years. Merwin raised Activision's 2019 and 2020 estimates to reflect a robust pipeline of games including Diablo, Overwatch 2, and a Blizzard mobile title, which he does not believe Street estimates fully reflect. 4. Abbott (ABT) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at BMO Capital by analyst Joanne Wuensch, who said she is placing the stock on her "Top Picks" list, noting that 2018 will be the "year of execution" with several product launches ahead and acquisitions of Alere and St. June in the past. 5. HCA Healthcare (HCA), Tenet (THC) and Universal Health (UHS) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citi by analyst Ralph Giacobbe, who cited a more constructive view on the hospital space. The analyst sees a better volume backdrop in 2018 and low expectations for the sector. He believes hospital stocks offer an attractive upside scenario. This list is just a portion of The Fly's full analyst coverage. To see The Fly's full Street Research coverage, click here.

12/12/17

NOMU

12/12/17UPGRADETarget $61NOMUBuy

Verizon upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Nomura Instinet

Nomura Instinet analyst Jeffrey Kvaal upgraded Verizon Communications to Buy and raised his price target for the shares to $61 from $47. The stock closed yesterday up 75c to $51.84. Better visibility into subscriber growth, rising average revenue per user and cost control will drive earnings growth in 2018, Kvaal tells investors in a research note. Further, he believes tax reform should also boost the company's earnings. The analyst thinks signs of easing competition may also spur multiple expansion.

Credit Suisse analyst Paul Condra notes that in addition to Apple (AAPL) rolling out Apple Pay Cash, Samsung (SSNLF) recently filed a patent to introduce a social payment feature to Samsung Pay. While the analyst does not see these as "meaningful threats" to PayPal (PYPL), which has first-mover advantage, he believes the more important takeaway is validation of the social payments model pioneered by Venmo and the expanding ways in which internet companies are integrating payments to bolster the functionality of their platforms. He reiterates an Outperform rating and $85 price target on PayPal's shares.

11/27/17

MSCO

11/27/17DOWNGRADEMSCOEqual Weight

Samsung downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley analyst Shawn Kim downgraded Samsung to Equal Weight with a lowered price target of 2.8M won. NAND prices started to reverse in Q4 while visibility on DRAM supply-demand dynamics has reduced beyond Q1 of 2018, Kim tells investors in a research note. He sees downside risk in Samsung with its memory segment not growing materially next year.

11/10/17

COWN

11/10/17NO CHANGETarget $195COWNOutperform

Universal Display price target raised to $195 from $155 at Cowen

Cowen analyst Robert Stone raised his price target on Universal Display (OLED) to $195 from $155 as he believes the company is poised for a strong 2018. The analyst cited several triggers, including its multi-year deal with Samsung (SSNLF) and the continued ramp of Apple's (AAPL) iPhone X. Stone reiterated his Outperform rating on Universal Display shares.

Piper Jaffray analyst Peter Keith sees a favorable setup for Best Buy (BBY) into next week's Q3 results following earnings reports from Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (SSNLF). Both earnings reports are supportive of potential for comp upside for Best Buy over the coming quarters, Keith tells investors in a pre-earnings research note. He reiterates an Overweight rating on the shares with a $68 price target.